Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn Food and Drinks. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn Food and Drinks. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng

Thứ Tư, 25 tháng 4, 2012

Wedding Macarons Guide: Flavors, Usages and Presentations

Bring a little bit of Paris to your wedding with these irresistible desserts. Traditionally French inspired, macarons are a popular dessert that your guests will enjoy at the wedding, or as a take home gift. These beautifully colored sweets melt in your mouth bringing a smile to anyone who tries them, making them the perfect treat for your special day. 
The macarons' flavors, usages and presentation options are endless and so are the ways that you can custom tailor them to meet your wedding needs. Here are a few suggestions:

Flavors
SWEET. Macarons come in an infinity variety of flavors, from the traditional chocolate and exotic fruits to coffee and tea. You can basically request this dessert in any flavor and flavor combination you can think of. I love the idea of featuring two variety of macarons, each on the bride's and groom's favorite flavors. { Left: Almond, coconut and Currant Macaroons by Whisk Kid, recipe here. Right: Snickers Macarons by 6 Bitterssweet, recipe here. }
COCKTAILS. I tought I've seen all the alternative ways to serve traditional cocktails at weddings; jell-o shots, cocktail cupcakes and cocktail popsicles, but cocktail macarons... this is something totally new to me. I'm loving this Raspberry Vodka Jelly Dark Chocolate Ganache Macaron by Macaron Fetish. The recipe is right here!
SALTY. If you aren't a dessert person, but you still would like to incorporate these pretty confections into your wedding, have no fear. Thanks to some very creative and talented pastry chefs nowadays you can find macarons in non-sweet flavors such as popcorn (by Eat Show And Tell - recipe) and salmon (by From Buenos Aires To Paris - recipe).
Usages
Besides being a fabulous wedding dessert, macarons can serve a double purpose at your event. Here are a few ideas:
ESCORT CARDS (image source) See other unique place-card displays by clicking here.
WEDDING CAKE DECOR (Left - cake by Sharon Wee Creations via Cake Central. Right - cake by Cake Opera via Cakes and Sweets)
FAVORS (by SparklesMacaron)
DESSERT TABLE ELEMENT (image source)
PLACE SETTING DECOR (image source) See other unique place-settings by clicking here.
DESSERT INGREDIENT. Like in this Strawberry and Macaron Trifle by Trissalicious (recipe) or this Mont Blanc with Macaron dessert.
Presentations 
In weddings presentation is everything. There is never a detail too small. Take advantage of the macaron transformational abilities and personalize it to complement your wedding color scheme, theme and decor.
COLORS.  Macarons can be made in any color or color combination to match your color palette. Your baker can even add some metallic accents to bring some sparkle, make them in different shades of the same color to match your ombre color theme or confection a multicolor variety if you are going for the rainbow effect. {First image source | multicolor macarons by Macaron Fetish - recipe | blue and gold macarons by My Sweet and Saucy via Pinterest | Ombre Macarons by Pei Li's Miniatures via Bridal Survival}
THEMES. Wether you are going for lavender (by Macaron Fetish - recipe) touches, vintage love birds (by Bubble and Sweet) theme or to movie inspirations like Breakfast at Tiffany's (by Sprinkle Bakers - recipe) or Marie Antoinette (image source), macarons could be an unexpected, yet fabulous element that brings your wedding inspiration together. See for yourself...
MONOGRAMS. You guys will have your monogram on your wedding invitations, your menus and even reflected on your reception dancing floor, so take a step further and and bring the monogram to your desserts with this monogramed macarons by Hideminy.
TOWERS.  This lovely idea isn't so much about the macarons themselves, but about the way you can feature them at your wedding. Macaron towers are commonly used as dessert table elements, but more and more adventurous brides are choosing a macaron tower over the traditional wedding cake. (Left - tower by Cake Opera via The Cake Blog. Right - cake by Jay's Catering via Heavenly Bloom)
MACARON-POPS. I am *slightly* obsessed with any desert on a stick, specially cake-pops. But, put macarons on a stick with a cute little bow, and…I can hardly handle the cuteness. These particular pops are raspberry mascarpone macarons by Tartlette. Recipe right here!
OTHER CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO SERVE MACARONS. First up, we have a mini tower made out of macarons of different sizes by Christophe Rousel. The second image is a macaroon centerpiece by Kitchen Musigns used in a dessert table...lovely!  And last, but not least these beautiful cranberry macarons by Eddy Van Damme. They remind me of an engagement ring, so besides the wedding, I would love to see them at an engagement party or bridal shower.

If you want your wedding desserts to be anything but standard, check out these suggestions:



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Thứ Tư, 11 tháng 4, 2012

Gourmet Jell-O Shots for Weddings

I know what you’re thinking….”Wow, Belle has stooped to an all-time low on this one! Jello-O shots for a wedding…PUH-LEASE!”  Well, what if I told you that jelly shots have gone fancy and are leaving their mark at weddings.  These classed-up versions can bring an unexpected design element to even the most fabulous of fêtes. Gourmet Jell-O Shots are classic cocktails translated into beautiful gelatin form with a flavor true to the drink inspiration. With Jello shots presentation is everything! Replace the traditional little plastic cups with fancy molds, add some fresh fruit and presto-jello shots will dazzle! 
If you're looking for a creative, unique and sophisticated way to serve alcohol at your wedding reception or cocktail hour, then I'd like to introduce you to the wonderful world of Gourmet Jell-O Shots.


Click in the link at the end of each post to get the recipe plus step by step directions.

1. The Bramble, a lemon sour base, gin, and a float of blackberry liqueur (Rock UR Party)
2. Dragon Flowers, pretty and colorful (My Jell-O Americans)


3. Mimosa, perfect for brunch weddings (Jelly Shoot Test Kitchen)
4. Paloma, my mom's favorite cocktail made out of tequila and grapefruit soda. Love the blush color. (Jelly Shoot Test Kitchen)

5. White Wine Sangria, a simple thing that always feels lavish, even slightly decadent - just like a summer outdoor wedding. (Jelly Shoot Test Kitchen)

6. Blackberry Cosmopolitan, who doesn't like a Cosmo? (Jelly Shoot Test Kitchen)
7. French 75, a twist on the classic champagne (Bakers Royale)
Not for everyone, but for a couple looking to have some fun, playful cocktails that are out of the norm, they're perfect!


If you want your wedding menu to be anything but standard, check out these suggestions:

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Thứ Sáu, 6 tháng 4, 2012

15 Ways To Welcome Your Wedding Guest

Many of your guests attend multiple weddings a year, so it’s no surprise that sometimes weddings tend to run together in their minds. How do you make your own event memorable and special? By being thoughtful and making guests feel extra welcome!

Welcome them with a refreshing beverage. Especially on a hot summer day, a glass of cold lemonade or iced tea will be much appreciated. A hot trend is setting up a drink station. (Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3)


A simple, yet beautiful welcome note or sign goes a long way. (Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3)



Don't way until the end of the wedding to give your guests a treat/item to take home. Choose favors that could be useful during the event, offer them as they enter the ceremony or reception. You can even double the purpose and use them as escort cards, as well. 
Help your guest keeping cool with fans. A cool idea is to personalized paper fans with the wedding program or a thank you note. (Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3)


If your ceremony is outdoors, offer parasols or maybe even some sunglasses to give them a bit of shade. (Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3)

For a late fall or winter wedding, offer cozy shawls for the ladies to keep them warm and comfortable. (Image source)

Many ladies wear their tallest, most glamorous high heels to a wedding… so they will be grateful for a basket of flip flops or flats to keep them on the dance floor all night long.  (Image sources: 1 | 2)

Since most of the above suggestions are target to ladies, you may want to implement something special for the gentleman.  It could be something as simple as a cigar bar, (Image source)

as thoughtful as a "trade your neck-tie for a bow-tie bar",   (Image source)

or boutonnieres for everyone. Place a bowl filled with the florets of hyacinth, narcissus, or another fragrant flower on a table, along with a tumbler of glass-headed pins.   (Image sources: 1 | 2)

Being an out-of-town wedding guest usually means making a lot of sacrifice. From making travel and lodging arrangements to potentially feeling out of place at the wedding, those out of town guests deserve assembling some nicely-presented gift bags or basket full of everything they'll need, to be waiting in each of their hotel rooms.   (Image sources: 1 | 2)

Other fun ideas for the reception include personalized tissue boxes for happy tears and personalized cookies with guests' names for place settings.  (Image sources: 1 | 2)

It may be your big day, but it is also important to keep the comfort and convenience of your guests in mind throughout the planning process. A considerate bride and groom always equals happy wedding guests! 


Here are a few more fabulous ideas to make your event memorable:




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Thứ Sáu, 16 tháng 3, 2012

15 Fabulous Ombre Wedding Cakes

I can't get enough of ombre. The soft fading effect looks lovely on wedding cakes. And the subtle mix between bright shades and pastel colors is just the perfect fit for spring celebrations. So, I thought we’d say goodbye to this oh-so-fabulous pre-spring week with an array of the most fabulous ombre cakes around the web. Have a fabulous weekend!
Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15



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